The veteran's low back disability is rated at 20% under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The Board finds no evidence to support a higher rating based on incapacitating episodes or other criteria. Service connection for hypertension, heart murmur, and aortic insufficiency with bicuspid valve is denied as not due to service-connected residuals of low back injury or an undiagnosed illness. The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support the presence of incapacitating episodes that would warrant a higher rating under the Formula for Rating Intervertebral Disc Syndrome Based on Incapacitating Episodes. Service connection is denied as there is no competent medical evidence to link the veteran's heart condition to service or an undiagnosed illness.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Residuals of a low back injury with laminectomy","additional_conditions":["Hypertension","Heart murmur","Aortic insufficiency with bicuspid valve"]}
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 24, 2006
- Citation
- 0611725
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0611725.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right lower extremity sciatica associated with the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine strain, but remanded claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and sleep apnea.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his lung cancer was related to his service-connected melanoma.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for anxiety but denied it for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's sleep apnea was less likely than not related to his active service or service-connected acquired psychiatric condition.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches as proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.